Married to the Mafia Boss

Evgenii

I lightly knock on my sister’s bedroom door, despite it being open. My sister used to be part of an elite Russian army operation. She’ll take my head off before I can blink.

Natalia looks up from where she’s resting on her bed, playing on her phone. “Brother?”

“I thought it would be nice to get out a little.” I smile my charming smile. “The family we have joined forces with owns this bistro on Fifth Avenue. I thought we could go have dinner there.”

“You want to use me for cover so you can see your little American girlfriend?” She shakes her head, but she’s smiling. “You know you’re a player. Why get involved with one you’ve already played.”

I keep my calm. “I don’t, I just want to take my baby sister out to get some nice food, and then we’ll come back. I’m not thinking about Shirley at all.”

That was the biggest lie I’ve ever told anyone in my family. All that I’ve been able to think about is Shirley. What she’s doing, what she’s wearing, what she looks like when she’s not wearing that, and how warm her mouth is when it’s wrapped around my…

“Okay,” Natalia jolts me from my thoughts, “I know you’re lying, but I am hungry. We can go.”

I don’t retaliate, although it’s hard because she and I both have that signature smirk that belongs to our immediate family.

We leave the house, taking my car into New York toward Fifth Avenue, where the bistro is. It’s hard to find parking because the bistro is busy, but I eventually find a spot, paying off the Sorvino guard to ensure it isn’t towed or clamped.

We both look around as we walk in. Natalia admires the decor while I’m looking for Shirley. If she’s not here, she’s at La Club, and I’m sure I can go there after dropping Nat off.

We wait for the hostess to fetch us to take us to our table when I see Kira.

“Kira, hey!” I try and look casual. “I thought I’d bring my sister Natalia to taste your fine cooking.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Natalia,” Kira smiles, holding her hand out. “The special tonight is to die for.”

“We’ll take two,” my charming smile activates on its own. There’s a moment’s pause before I ask, “I’m surprised the rest of your family aren’t here. Where’s Dominic? Miguel? Arianna and Shirley?”

Natalia snorts but composes herself quickly as Kira says, “They don’t eat here every day, you know, Evgenii. Dominic is probably home. Miguel is looking after our kids. Arianna is out with Carmine, and Shirley had some date.”

My mood sours, but I try not to let it show on my face. “Oh, okay. Oh, look, it’s our turn to be seated. We’re looking forward to the excellent food.”

Kira smiles at me and walks back to the kitchen as Kimber, the hostess, leads us to the private booths reserved for family and friends. I sit opposite Natalia, but all I can think about is Shirley and who the fuck took her on a date.

“You’re not supposed to be distracted by her,” Natalia’s comment is quiet and casual but to the point, and my head snaps up in defense. “What? No, I don’t care what she does with her time. That’s her problem.”

Natalia smiles but says nothing more as the waitress comes over to take our drinks order.NôvelDrama.Org owns all content.

Our first round of drinks comes, and I settle back. “So you say Europe was good? Our parents are fine?”

“As fine as can be, they’re living in the lap of luxury,” Nat says, sipping her cocktail. “Maybe you should try to see them sometime.”

“Nah,” I brush her off. “They will never be happy that I didn’t become a surgeon, CEO, or some sort of leader.”

“They are proud of you,” she says, reaching for my hand.

I grin and squeeze her hand in mine. “Tell me about you. What made you decide to set up shop here?”

“I needed a job, and Ivan was kind enough to agree to help me out.” She looks away as she speaks, and it rouses my suspicion.

“Is there something you’re not telling me, Natalia? Is everything okay?” I ask, leaning forward and keeping my voice low.

She glances at me, and our eyes meet briefly before she shakes her head. “Nothing happened. I’m just not feeling well.”

“You should see a doctor then. We have one that will come to the house to see you.”

“Evgenii, please. If I need a doctor, I will ask for one. Can I just be left alone to deal with my life for a few days?”

I don’t answer as the waitress brings our food. It smells delicious, and Nat instantly tucks in, moaning softly as she tastes the food.

“Almost as good as Aunty’s food,” I comment, stuffing a piece of cheesy garlic bread into my mouth.

“Almost, but not quite,” Natalia agrees. The conversation becomes lighter, and we reminisce about our childhoods and the trouble we used to cause and get into, especially with Ivan.

After eating and drinking our fill, I return Natalia to the car. She climbs in while I pause to message Shirley and ask her if she wants to meet for a nightcap at La Club. I know she’ll feel safe there.

After pocketing my phone, I get into the car and drive us home. Natalia hasn’t said much since we finished our meal, and I can tell there’s something she’s hiding, but she won’t come out and say it. Briefly, I wonder if she is questioning her loyalty to me or my loyalty to Ivan, but no, she has clearly been off since her trip. Something must have happened in Europe. I’ll have to ask my parents if they know anything-without her knowing-because if she finds out I’m prying into her private life, she will make me pay for it.

Natalia kisses my cheek when I pull up to the house. “Don’t punch anyone. It’ll make you look like the bad guy.” Young but wise, my sister knows me too well. I watch her walk into the house, my phone to my ear, as I get one of my tech guys to trace Shirley’s last known location.

I wait in my car, wondering if Shirley has a type. If her type is me. What if it’s someone entirely different from me? Does that mean I don’t stand a chance at all with her ever again?

My phone buzzes, and Jessie is talking quickly in my ear.

She’s at a restaurant, or at least was there five minutes ago, and it isn’t far from my house. I sit in my car for a few moments, considering how Ivan would feel if he found out I was doing this, that I was going insane over an ex. Then I turn my car back on and pull out of my driveway. I have to know who she agreed to go on a date with. I won’t do anything. I’ll just look and leave. Nothing serious, and Ivan and Alessandro will never find out I was there anyway. No harm. No foul.

Surprise, surprise, it’s a cheesy, over-priced French restaurant, the kind new money kinds take their dates to so they can flash how much cash they spend in the hopes it’ll convince their date they’re worth going home with. I go to the hostess and am about to ask for a seat at the bar when I see Shirley.

Talking and laughing with Mikhail.

My blood boils, but I smooth down my suit and smile at the hostess. “My friends are already here.”

I stride past her despite her protests and head straight for their table. I stop to the side of them and smile. “Well, isn’t this a small world?”

Mikhail looks at me with irritation, while Shirley looks livid. “What are you doing here, Evgenii?”

“I was just looking for a bite to eat,” I say innocently. “Imagine my surprise when I find you here. Why don’t we make this a party?” I grab a free chair and sit down on the open side of the table. “This way, we can all have some fun.”

Mikhail smiles at Shirley and then turns to me. “I’m afraid we’ll have to party some other time. This is a private dinner.”

I widen my eyes and act surprised again. “Oh! Oh! Shirley,” I turn to her, “do Ivan and Alessandro know about this? Because I’d doubt either of them would be happy about this development.”

“You certainly aren’t,” Mikhail comments, wiping his mouth on his napkin.

I smirk. “Now, now, Mikhail, you came to us for a truce so we wouldn’t wipe you out, not the other way around.”

“Perhaps Ivan should reel in his dog and train it better,” Mikhail snipes at me.

“Jesus!” Shirley exclaims. We look at her as she picks up her handbag and jacket. “You are both acting like damn toddlers.” With that, she walks away without another word.

Mikhail stands and fixes his jacket, intending to go after her, but I stand, a head taller than him. “Don’t even think about it. You stay away from her.”

He snorts and flags a waitress. “The bill, please.” He turns to me with a smirk. “You have no authority over me, Evgenii. You can’t tell me what I can and can’t, will or won’t do.”

I want to punch him, I do, but instead, I decide to go after Shirley. I glance back twice as I walk out and realize Mikhail isn’t following me.